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What was most surprising -- and most telling -- was when Taj Gibson fouled out in overtime, Thibodeau opted to put little-used backup Nazr Mohammed into the game, not Noah.

"Just the spirit, fight," Thibodeau said, when asked what he liked about that group. "We knew it was going to be a tough game coming in, and that's the way they play, a credit to them. You have to stay disciplined. You can't allow frustration to take you away from what you're trying to get done out there. It's one of those things, you got to keep battling and battling and battling. In the end, whatever's necessary, that's what you have to do to win. You got to get in the fight, it's physical. You can't get thrown around. And when you're getting smacked you've still got to be able to get your job done."

Noah didn't get that chance. After starting 5-for-5 from the field and scoring 10 points in the first quarter, it looked as if he hit a wall, and he did not score a single point after that. Maybe all the minutes he's been playing lately finally caught up to him? Maybe Thibodeau wanted to see more from him? Maybe Noah has a nagging injury the coaching staff doesn't want to divulge? Maybe he was just having a bad night? Whatever it was, Thibodeau sent a message to his leader and captain -- he needs more, even on nights when Noah doesn't have much more to give.

Noah grabbed 4 rebounds in the 2nd and 3rd so how exactly was he going to stop them. Hell he was on Randolph most of the time he was on the floor and still couldn't stop him. The only reason I would have had Noah in the game was to play D on gasol because boozer just looked at him shoot.

Randolph shot 6/20 and scored 13 points while making 1/4 free throws. Saying Randolph played well when Noah was guarding him is absurd.

In the 1st quarter Randolph was 1/3 with an offensive foul drawn by Noah in a total of 9 minutes and 21 seconds. (Noah played the entire 1st quarter).
In the 2nd quarter Noah was taken out of the game for Boozer with 9:10 minutes to go. Then, Randolph entered the game with 7:14 to go in the half. Noah reentered the game for Gibson with 5:43 left. At that point Randolph had yet to take a shot in the second quarter. With Noah back in the game and guarding Randolph, Randolph went 1/3 in the quarter making him 2/6 in the game with an offensive foul.

In the 3Q, Randolph went 0/3 with two of his attempts being blocked by Noah. Noah taken out of the game at the 5:53 mark in the third. Noah didn't return to the game.

So with Noah guarding Randolph through 2 and a half quarters, Randolph went 2/9 against Noah with no free throw attempts, an offensive foul, and was blocked twice by Noah.

In that case, I just disagree. Randolph grabbing rebounds, and a lot, doesn't mean Noah was the only one that couldn't box him out. Randolph's one of the league's best rebounders (career 17.3trb%). He'll have games where he gets to some balls that normally he wouldn't, and there are other games where Noah will get to those. Also, boxing out is a team concept. Randolph had 4 offensive rebounds that were due to tips, so while technically they were rebounds he only scored on one of those attempts. Randolph's large rebounding game shouldn't only be pinned on Noah, especially since Noah shut him down defensively.

Not really wanting to bump this because it's an old issue, but unless Noah really said something cray/random about Thibs or the staff, am I the only one slightly worried if one of the emotional leaders of the team got into it with the coaches?

I don't think there's any level of player dissent/mutiny going on, but hearing that Noah was benched for saying something made my stomach churn (albeit briefly).

It was probably having to do with Noah just wanting to stay on the court. Probably something along the lines of "put me back in the ****ing game" was stated and you don't tell Thibs what to do. So he got benched.